Resources

To paraphrase Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz: “My! Resources for dads come and go so quickly here!” And because they do, this is by no means a comprehensive list of resources. But I’d really like to create one—and you can help. If you know of a resource–or category of resources–that can benefit dads and their families, let us know.

Adoption

ADOPTION.COM provides information on all aspects of adoption including those who wish to place a child for adoption; those who want to adopt; adoptees and birth parents who are searching; those who want to adopt internationally; support information; and much more.www.Adoption.com

NATIONAL ADOPTION CENTER offers a great list of questions to ask adoption agencies; addresses tax, single-parent, and legal issues; provides photos of kids waiting to be adopted, book reviews, lists of state and local contacts, and links to other adoption-related organizations.
Tel.: (800) TO-ADOPT
e-mail: nac@adopt.orgwww.adopt.org

AMERICAN ADOPTION CONGRESS (AAC) is composed of individuals, families, and organizations committed to adoption reform. The AAC is committed to achieving changes in attitudes, policies, and legislation that will guarantee access to identifying information for all adoptees and their birth and adoptive families.http://www.americanadoptioncongress.org/index.php

NORTH AMERICAN COUNCIL ON ADOPTABLE CHILDREN advocates for the right of every child to a permanent, continuous, nurturing and culturally sensitive family; provides training; conducts studies; and prepares teaching materials which are made available to those involved in adoption.
Tel: (651) 644-3036
e-mail: info@nacac.orghttp://www.nacac.org/

ADOPTING.ORG provides information, resources, and support for adoptive families.www.adopting.org

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES is an award-winning online magazine—a great source of info before, during, and after adoption.www.adoptivefamilies.com

Advice, General

There are literally dozens of parenting resources out there for new parents. Among my favorites are:

KIDSINTHEHOUSE.COM features 8,000 videos (including several dozen of mine) from more than 400 experts that can help answer all your questions on pregnancy and parenting.www.kidsinthehouse.com

PARENTING 24/7 was developed by the University of Illinois to be a “one-stop” source of news, information, and advice on parenting. It includes recent news articles on a wide variety of topics, as well as a large number of video clips of parents and professionals discussing parenting challenges and strategies.
Tel: (217) 333-2912
e-mail: parenting247@uiuc.edu
www.parenting247.org

THE NATIONAL PARENTING CENTER offers advice from a variety of parenting authorities (doctors, psychologists, and parenting experts/authors). The articles are based on age-specific groups, which offer a variety of advice for children in each stage of development.http://www.tnpc.com/

GREATDAD.COM is great website that features voices of different dad writers and experts. Because dads don’t always think like moms, GreatDad has the only dad-written, week-by-week newsletters covering pregnancy and baby, as well as a city-by-city resource guide of fun things to do with your kids based on interest and age level.GreatDad.com

PREGNANCYMAGAZINE.COM is one of the leading pregnancy websites. They publish 11 issues per year–including “The Pregnant Dad,” the only pregnancy magazine issue written and edited by new and experienced fathers.www.pregnancymagazine.com

African American Fathers

At-Home Dads

NATIONAL AT HOME DAD NETWORK has great resources on how to find/register/start a dads group. They also have links to stay-at-home dad bloggers, statistics, resources, and a lot more.http://athomedad.org/

Babies, Behavioral Health and Special Needs

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY is a comprehensive resource with articles ranging from separation anxiety to behavioral disorderswww.aacap.org

AUTISM SPEAKS has substantial resources for parents who want information or support for children on the autistic spectrum.www.autismspeaks.org

CEREBRAL PALSY GUIDE aids families and children affected by Cerebral Palsy in finding a variety of financial, medical, and emotionally supportive resources.http://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com

EXCEPTIONAL PARENT provides educational information for families of children with disabilities and special needs, as well as health-care professionals involved in the care and development of special needs children.http://www.eparent.com/

THE FATHERS’ NETWORK supports fathers and families raising children with special health-care needs and developmental disabilities.www.fathersnetwork.org

MY CHILD WITHOUT LIMITS offers information on a variety of disorders that can cause developmental learning delays, including Down syndrome, epilepsy, and hearing and vision impairments. The online community offers an opportunity for families to connect and share words of encouragement and to provide solutions to everyday problems.http://www.mychildwithoutlimits.org/

WORLD ASSOCIATION FOR INFANT MENTAL HEALTH promotes education, research, and study of the effects of mental, emotional and social development during infancy on later normal and psychopathological development through international and interdisciplinary cooperation, publications, affiliate associations, and through regional and biennial congresses devoted to scientific, educational, and clinical work with infants and their caregivers.
Tel: +358 50 4627379
e-mail: office@waimh.orghttp://www.waimh.org/

Babies, General Health Issues

Healthy Children is sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics for parents. It provides formation on topics including child development, health, safety, and family issues.www.healthychildren.org

SAFETY KIDS PROGRAM works hand-in-hand with children, parents, law enforcement personnel, and teachers to protect children from abuse, abduction, exploitation, violence, and injury through victimization.http://www.safetykids.org/

QUITDAY has some great information on the dangers to babies of cigarette smoke at home and in daycare settings.QuitDay.org

PREEMIES TODAY provides a meaningful connection for preemies families both in the NICU and beyond by enabling them to meet others families whose lives have been affected by premature birth.http://www.preemiestoday.com/

Breastfeeding

LA LECHE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL, INC. provides information and mother-to-mother support through La Leche League’s network of lay leaders and professional experts.http://www.lalecheleague.org/

UNITED STATES BREASTFEEDING COMMITTEE goal is to improve the Nation’s health by working collaboratively to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.
Tel: (202) 367-1132
e-mail: office@usbreastfeeding.orghttp://www.usbreastfeeding.org/

KELLY MOM is a very nice site that includes information on breastfeeding and some excellent resources on medication safety during breastfeeding.http://kellymom.com/

BREASTFEEDING ONLINE hopes to help empower women to choose to breastfeed and to educate society at large about the importance and benefits of breastfeeding.http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/

Childbirth, Assistance

AMERICAN COLLEGE OF NURSE-MIDWIVES accredits midwife education programs, establishes standards, and provides information and referrals to midwives in your area.www.midwife.org

ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)www.acog.com

DOULAS OF NORTH AMERICA provides resources and referrals to doulas near you.www.dona.org

INTERNATIONAL CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION ASSOCIATION is a professional organization that supports educators and other health-care providers.www.icea.org

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF CHILD-BEARING CENTERS provides information about birthing centers and resources for finding one near you.www.birthcenters.org

THE COALITION FOR IMPROVING MATERNITY SERVICES (CIMS) is a coalition of individuals and national organizations with a mutual concern for the care and well-being of mothers, babies, and families.www.motherfriendly.org

CITIZENS FOR MIDWIFERY works to provide information and resources that promote the local midwife, as well as midwives and midwifery care across the countrywww.cfmidwifery.org

CHILDBIRTH CONNECTION’s mission is to improve the quality and value of maternity care through consumer engagement and health system transformation. The organization has pioneered strategies to promote evidence-based maternity care, improvement of maternity care policy and quality, and maternity care shared decision making in the United States.www.childbirthconnection.org

MIDWIVES ALLIANCE OF NORTH AMERICA is a professional midwifery association uniquely positioned to unite and strengthen all midwives through dedication to innovative education, professional development, and recognized autonomous practice.www.mana.org

Children and Media

COMMON SENSE MEDIA features reviews of movies, music, books, games and other Web sites intended to help families make decisions about what they watch, hear, read and play.https://www.commonsensemedia.org/

NET FAMILY NEWS here parents can subscribe to a weekly e-mail newsletter that includes family-relevant news clippings and also a blogroll of others who are writing and tweeting about children and technology.http://www.netfamilynews.org/

PARENT FURTHER is run by the Search Institute and drawing on the National Institute on Media and the Family, the “Technology and Media” section of this site includes information on cell phones, social networking and a range of other topics.http://www.parentfurther.com/technology-media

PBS TEACHERS: MEDIA LITERARCY section on media literacy includes a quiz that parents can take about kids and media use, as well as links to other resources and classroom ideas for educators.http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/

Cord Blood Banking/Stem Cell Research

CORD BANKING offers information about cord blood banking, cord blood donation and umbilical cord research and technology. We look at this topic from the eyes of parents and provide answers to important practical and ethical questions.http://cordbanking.org/

CORD BLOOD CENTER provides information for expectant parents and families considering cord blood banking. They are dedicated to finding the perfect option for your family whatever it may be. They provide the must relevant, up to date information on benefits, pricing and current research for cord blood stem cells.Cord Blood Center

Fatherhood, General

BOOT CAMP FOR NEW DADS provides father-to-father, community-based workshop that inspires and equips men of different economic levels, ages and cultures to become confidently engaged with their infants, support their mates and personally navigate their transformation into dads.http://www.bootcampfornewdads.org/

THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR FATHERING has resources designed to help men become more aware of their own fathering style and then work toward improving their skills.
Tel.: (913) 384-4661
e-mail: ncf@aol.comwww.fathers.com

THE NATIONAL FATHERHOOD INITIATIVE offers membership that includes the quarterly newsletter “Fatherhood Today”; updates on family issues and political/legislative developments; the Fatherhood Resource Catalog of books, videos, and audio tapes, offering a discount on all items; and updates on activities and events.
Tel.: (800) 790-DADS or (717) 581-8860www.fatherhood.org

NATIONAL RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD CLEARINGHOUSE supports the efforts of the
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to assist States and communities to promote and support Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage. Primarily a resource for professionals operating Responsible Fatherhood programs, the NRFC provides access to print and electronic publications, timely information on fatherhood issues, and targeted resources that support HHS-funded Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage initiatives.https://www.fatherhood.gov/

MRDAD.COM is my Web site. You can get information there about pretty much every aspect of pregnancy, childbirth, and fatherhood; find out more about my other fatherhood books; and send me questions and comments.www.mrdad.com

Fathers, Divorced or Single

AMERICAN COALITION FOR FATHERS AND CHILDREN is dedicated to promoting equal rights of all parties affected by divorce or the breakup of a family. Chapters nationwide.
Tel.: (800) 978-3237
e-mail: info@acfc.orgwww.acfc.org

DONOR CONCEPTION NETWORK is a supportive network of 1,700 mainly UK based families with children conceived with donated sperm, eggs or embryos, those considering or undergoing donor conception procedures; and donor conceived people.http://www.dcnetwork.org/

LIFE AS A DAD TO DONOR-INSEMINATION KIDS is a thoughtful blog about raising children conceived by artificial means.http://di-dad.blogspot.com/

THE MCH LIBRARY is a service provided by Georgetown University’s National Center for Education in Maternal Child Health. Despite the name, it lists a lot of resources that focus on psychological and social impacts of ART on children conceived via ART and on their families—including dads.
http://www.mchlibrary.info/guides/ART.html

Fathers, Older

Finances (College Savings, Financial Planning, Insurance, and so on)

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LIFE INSURERS provides basic information on the spectrum of life insurance products and operates the National Insurance Consumer Helpline, which can give you referrals to local agents.www.acli.com

COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN NETWORK offers great info on all of the state- sponsored college savings plans and referrals to the one in your state.www.collegesavings.org

Grandparents

GRANDPARENTS RIGHTS ORGANIZATION purpose is to educate and support grandparents and grandchildren and to advocate their desire to continue a relationship that may be threatened with loss of contact or amputation, usually following: family acrimony; a child being born out of wedlock; the death of one of the child’s parents or the divorce of the grandchild’s parents.http://www.grandparentsrights.org/

NATIONAL KINSHIP ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN provides a nationwide network of grandparents, community members, and professionals working together to provide education and support, advocacy, and thought leadership for children, grandparents, and kinship families.
Tel: (888) 659.3745 (Warmline)
e-mail: info@kinshipalliance.orghttp://kinshipalliance.org

Green Parenting/Healthy Living

ECOMOM ALLIANCE is a global net- work of mothers working together to create an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable future.http://www.ecomomalliance.org/

ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP’s mission is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment.www.ewg.org

GREENHOME explains everything you need to create a healthy, nontoxic home environment.www.greenhome.com

GET ORGANIZED NOW is a comprehensive resource with a wealth of organizing content on a variety of subjects, including kids’ clutter, home office organization, storage solutions and time management. There’s a blog as well as a discussion forum, some reader tips, and a free newsletter.http://www.getorganizednow.com/

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS is a group of some 4,200 professional organizers “dedicated to helping individuals and businesses bring order and efficiency to their lives.” In addition to promoting professional standards for the organizing industry, NAPO offers consumer tips and a Professional Organizer Directory to help you find qualified help in your area.http://www.napo.net/

PRPFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS ONLINE helps you locate a pro to organize your home or business. This organization also offers virtual organizers who can provide assistance via phone, e-mail, video or the web.http://professionalorganizersonline.com/

Infertility and Assistive Reproduction

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE is an excellent source of information on a broad range of topics, including fertility, contraception, menopause, and sexuality. Patients will find articles and fact sheets that explain an extensive list of subjects in a clear and thorough manner.
Tel: (205) 978-5000
e-mail: asrm@asrm.orghttp://www.reproductivefacts.org/

AMERICAN FERTILITY ASSOCIATION focuses specifically on issues of family building. The AFA provides education, advocacy, and support for couples who are struggling to have children. Patients can find general information about such topics as reproductive health, fertility treatment, and adoption, as well as relevant news articles and a nationwide support network.
Tel: (888) 917.3777
e-mail: Info@TheAFA.orghttp://www.theafa.org/

SOCIETY FOR ASSISTIVE REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY provides information about procedures, success rates, candidacy, and medications are available for fertility patients who are interested in learning more about ART.
Tel: (205) 978-5000 x 109
e-mail: kjefferson@asrm.orghttp://www.sart.org

RESOLVE is a nationwide organization dedicated to advocacy and support for men and women with fertility problems.
Tel: (703) 556.7172http://www.resolve.org/

Latino and/or Spanish Speaking Fathers

NATIONAL LATINO FATHERHOOD AND FAMILY INSTITUTE offers consulting, seminars,
and trainings. Its goal is to address the multifaceted needs of Latino men and foster a positive approach to working with Latino populations, building on the strengths of cultural traditions.
Tel: (408) 676-8215http://www.nationalcompadresnetwork.com/nlffi/nlffi.html

Men, General

THE MEN’S HEALTH NETWORK is a national education organization that recognizes men’s health as a specific social concern. They have a fantastic database of articles, resources, and links on every conceivable fatherhood issue.www.menshealthnetwork.org

Music

Each of these companies offer music and movement programs for infants and their parents. CDs and song books are available. Classes in each method are offered throughout the United States. Listings are available on the Web sites.

NATIVE CHILD affirms the Navajo child’s culture, language and identity in a positive way through a supportive curriculum that builds self-confidence and a sense of belonging.
Tel: (505) 820-2204
e-mail: info@nativechild.comhttp://nativechild.com/

Postpartum Depression

POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL is dedicated to helping women suffering from perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including postpartum depression, the most common complication of childbirth.http://postpartum.net/Default.aspx

MOTHERISK provides evidence-based information and guidance about the safety or risk to the developing fetus or infant, of maternal exposure to drugs, chemicals, diseases, radiation and environmental agents.http://www.motherisk.org/women/index.jsp

Reading

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION has reviews of children’s books and lists of award winners.www.ala.org

THE CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK DATABASE AT MIAMI UNIVERSITY offers a bibliography of books for books for children, preschool to third grade that can be used to design literature-based thematic units. It is searchable by topics, concepts, and skills. While the database is particularly useful for teachers and librarians, it can also greatly benefit parents eager to find picture books on specific topics for their children.http://dlp.lib.miamioh.edu/

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE provides a searchable database of reviews of the latest kids’ books.www.childrenslit.com

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE WEB GUIDE has a wealth of information on children’s books, recommendations, and links to other good sites.www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/

CHINABERRY publishes a wonderful catalog of books for readers (or listeners) of all ages.www.chinaberry.com

THE HORN BOOK has lists of children’s classics, medal winners, and other resources for parents.www.hbook.com

THE INFANT LEARNING COMPANY produces a set of videos (and DVDs) and books designed to help children of all ages—even infants—learn to read.www.infantlearning.com

PLANET ESME.COM reviews, rates, and recommends books for kids of all ages.www.planetesme.com

Sign Language

SIGN2ME offers videos and books based on the work of Joseph Garcia.www.sign2me.com

BABYSIGNS offers videos and books based on the work of Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn.www.babysigns.com

MY SMART HANDS a group of baby sign language instructors that use 100% ASL signs to teach parents how to communicate with their hearing babies.http://mysmarthands.com/

SIGNING TIME provides a wealth of DVDs, information, newsletters, blogs, coloring sheets and chore charts to support families who want to learn American Sign Language and teach it to their deaf or hard-of-hearing babies, preschoolers and school-age children. This material is developed for use with children with and without hearing loss.http://www.signingtime.com/

Work Life Balance

THIRD PATH INSTITUTE provides resources, information and consulting to help people find a “third path” to better balance work and family. They advocate for shared car at home and flexible, supportive approaches at work.http://www.thirdpath.org/